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You may have noticed people with a moisture meter in their hands. It could have been the local builder, someone down at your nearby garden centre or maybe a carpenter that you know. The thing with the moisture meter is that it is used in various applications to detect moisture and analyse it. Wood is the first material that comes to mind when you think of moisture detection, but the moisture meter has been designed for various purposes.
Wood Moisture Meter
The wood moisture meter functions on the principle as any moisture content in the wood increases, the wood resistance decreases. Any decrease in the resistance is actually converted in to digital data that the moisture meter will display as a percentage of water in the wood. The wood moisture meter will have two protruding electrodes which the user will insert in to the wood to test for water content. The resistance between the two electrodes will indicate the moisture content in the wood. When working with wood, the ideal situation is to have a moisture content in equilibrium to it’s surroundings. Moisture can have a great effect on wood and if the moisture levels change in wood, then the wood can actually change shape. This can cause all sorts of problems in precision work. If you look at wood that has dried out for a long time you will see that it has changed shape. This concept is extremely important within the carpentry trade and you will find that many carpenters swear by their moisture meter and use one daily for any moisture detection and moisture analysis.
Concrete Moisture Meter
Concrete and concrete slabs are used freely in the construction industry. The concrete moisture meter was first introduced to be used to check the moisture content in concrete slabs. These moisture meters work on the same principle as the wood moisture meter employing electrodes and the resistance between them. Though working on the same principle as the wood moisture meter these concrete versions do differ significantly. They have the capability of measuring moisture up to a depth of 1 inch from the moisture surface. This is essential for concrete workers as they need to be able to measure moisture content in the depths of a concrete slab and not just the surface, to be able to plan construction.
Soil Moisture Meter
The moisture meter can also play a huge role within the gardening industry. There are soil moisture meters which analysis the moisture content in soil. They can be used to find out whether plants need watering or not. Obviously when it rains, soil receives water but is it enough? With a soil moisture meter one can regularly test soil at their convenience. As well as under watering, over watering can also have an adverse effect on any plants and crops. The soil moisture meter works on the same basis as any ordinary moisture meter and proves to be an invaluable tool to the gardener and farmer alike.
When using a moisture meter always follow the correct procedures that are recommended in the instruction manual that comes with your device. The moisture meter proves itself over and over again to be a very useful tool to have in a variety of applications. They require very little maintenance and as long as the electrodes remain flexible and bendable, the moisture meter will give you continued excellent monitoring service.
Types Of Moisture Meter
Moisture Meter
Choosing A Moisture Meter
There are plenty of good quality moisture meters for you to choose from on the market today. But do not just purchase the first one you see. Give a little thought as to it’s use and application you have planned for it. With choosing a wood moisture meter for example there are a few considerations that should be applied to the selection process.
Firstly, you want a moisture meter that is versatile. By this we mean you should opt for a moisture meter that has the ability to read the true moisture content in the wood. You need a meter that is not affected by any surface moisture or any change in temperature. Moisture meters that are affected by any of these 2 factors can actually give you a false reading.
It is also worth remembering that the majority of wood moisture meters are not designed to be able to test every different wood product. So opt for a moisture meter that will read the specific wood types you are working with.
The moisture meter can be pin less or come with pins. A pin type moisture meter is fine if you are testing wood where the pin holes will not show. The pin less version uses different technology. It uses electro magnetic field technology and is definitely a better option for those that work within the wood industry. Before buying a moisture meter you need to assess how much you will use it and in what sphere. You are making an investment for the long term so think carefully before committing.
Why Purchase A Moisture Meter?
If you are working with wood and timber then a moisture meter is an essential piece of equipment for you to own. Moisture in wood can cause all sorts of problems with the quality and durability being greatly affected. Without a moisture meter you will not be able to assess the moisture content of wood and expensive mistakes can be made.
Any wood that comes to a manufacturing facility must be checked immediately with a moisture meter to ascertain the moisture levels. The moisture levels need to be at the correct level before any work is done. If you work with wood and the moisture level is wrong, the result will be product waste, labour waste and work quality problems further down the line.
Wood is a cellulosic material which means that it will continually gain or lose water from the environment it is in. When working with wood you need to know what the wood will equalize to if you wish to avoid any major problems in the particular project you are engaged in. The wood moisture meter assists with this and tells you if you are at the correct moisture level. By having a moisture meter the following problems can be eliminated: Shrinking and swelling of wood, warping and cracking of the wood and surface finishing problems.
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Technology And The Moisture Meter
Being able to gauge moisture levels in any given substance can prove to be of huge value. Such items as concrete and wood are greatly affected by the percentage of moisture content they hold, which can actually affect they way they perform. The moisture meter was invented solely for this purpose and are widely used today in many applications.
When it comes to concrete the moisture meter is an essential tool, especially when laying a new concrete floor. With concrete you must have the correct moisture level to prevent it from shifting or weakening. If concrete weakens it has to be reinforced which can be a long and expensive process. Using a moisture meter can assist greatly in this type of structural issue. As well as testing concrete, the moisture meter can be used to test the outside of any building for damp patches which can lead to ruination of any structure.
Wood is particularly susceptible to moisture fluctuations which can greatly affect the way it performs. For wood to perform to it’s ultimate capacity you need to have the correct moisture level content. The moisture meter will tell you this. If the moisture levels are wrong in timber you will experience shrinkage and twisting. As wood becomes drier it’s shape will alter. So by using a moisture meter on wood you will know when the wood is ready to be worked with.
The two main methods of measuring moisture content are Capacitance and Resistance
Pin Moisture Meters
These are the most commonly used moisture meter throughout the world and are referred to as pin meters. They will have two or more pins at the top end which are pushed in to wood or other similar materials. How it works is that one pin will allow direct current to run through in in to the material to be tested for moisture and this current is then picked up by the other pin, The moisture meter will then measure the resistance to the current to give the user a reading. With wood, dry wood will allow very little current to pass, whereas damp wood allows more current to pass. The moisture meter takes the reading and correlates the resistance to the moisture content.
Electromagnet Wave Technology
With this type of moisture meter the material does not have to be pierced to gain a moisture content reading. These meters are referred to as pin less meters. How one works is to give out electrical waves via a sensor which is pressed against the material to be tested. These waves will create an electromagnetic field the size of the sensor. This electromagnetic field will behave differently depending upon the actual moisture content. These meters are based on the capacitance method but other factors are also taken in to consideration. Factors include: the ability of the material to store energy, the amount of power the material absorbs from the field and the materials resistance to the field. All of these factors are taken in to consideration before this moisture meter gives a reading.
Moisture Meter Guide 2010 Contact details:garnett65@hotmail.com
Using A Moisture Meter
When it comes to using a moisture meter you may well be very experienced, but to use one properly, there are some common mistakes that you need to avoid. If you do not follow the standard set of guidelines for using a moisture meter and taking readings you may well find yourself on the receiving end of problems in the future. Avoiding simple mistakes when using the moisture meter for testing materials such as wood and concrete can provide more accurate readings and prevent any unnecessary costs further down the line.
The correct moisture meter for the job
You must have the correct moisture meter for the material you are testing. If you already have a moisture meter, do not fall in to the trap of believing that it is suitable for any test that you want to carry out. Many factors can influence a moisture test in a variety of situations. Such materials as wood come in vastly different types and each type can give off a different reading. So familiarize yourself with the material you will be testing. This will allow you to successfully choose the correct moisture meter for the job. Quite a few moisture meters are actually capable of testing numerous products but on the whole they are specifically designed for testing wood. For testing concrete and other building materials, there are moisture meters available that have been specifically designed and made for this purpose.
Calibration
When testing materials for moisture you need to be aware that different materials have different calibration settings. A good quality moisture meter will have a built in automatic calibration for different types of wood and materials. Others will have a manual calibration. You should also check your moisture meter periodically and test it on a material that contains constant moisture. By doing this you will see if your meter has the correct calibration settings and have not been altered in any way.
Readings
It is easy to fall in to the trap of just taking a couple of readings to gather a general idea of moisture content in an area or a material. However this is not enough. To take a moisture reading does not take up much time and is done quickly. So you need to be thorough and perform readings over the whole area or material. If you do not, you may discover that you have missed significant areas with moisture content.
Results
The moisture meter will give you results of moisture content of any material that you test. To understand these results you need to understand the particulars of the material which you are testing. When you buy a brand new moisture meter it should be supplied with a chart that gives you accurate information relative to the readings that the meter gives on a particular material. Remember a reading for one material may mean something completely different for another material.
Guide To The Moisture Meter
Moisture Meter Brands
When it comes to detecting moisture levels in any give material, the moisture meter is an essential instrument to use. One can be used within many industries. Home and building inspectors will rely upon the moisture meter to identify any potential moisture problems and damage in building structures. In the woodworking industry, furniture makers for example will test the wood to make sure they are working with quality materials. Concrete floor layers will also rely upon the moisture meter to ensure ideal working conditions, Even boat owners can use the moisture meter to test their boats when repairing or restoring the boat’s structure.
When it comes to the reading that a moisture meter gives, the indicator scales may vary in appearance but they all give results of the moisture content in a percentage. The display can be either analogue or digital. On the whole these meters are very accurate but you can find that results will differ slightly depending upon the brand and type of meter you use.
The majority of moisture meters are calibrated to wood. This means that when testing wood a relatively accurate reading is always obtained. The result range comes in the scale of 5 to 40% range. With concrete testing the range goes from 0 to 100% with 100% being concrete that is saturated. Some moisture meters will also have a third scale for plaster board. This range is 0.2 to 50%. If you are looking for a moisture meter to test sheetrock then you want one that offers the plaster board scale.
Colour indicators on the moisture meter prove to make easy reading and hence are very useful. The colours employed are green, yellow and red. Red is the highest on the scale indicating that there is high moisture content.
Pin moisture meter
The most popular form of moisture meter the pin type meter will measure the moisture content at the depth of the head of the contact pins. The contact pins are used to penetrate a material to a required depth. It works by measuring the electrical resistance between the pins. Using one of these can be referred to as invasive measuring as the pins will leave small holes.
The pin type moisture meter uses the principle of electrical resistance to measure any moisture content. The tips of the pins are un insulated and quite sharp. Not only can you test for moisture content in a material, you can also test surface moisture content of a material by just touching the surface with the pins. The pin meter can be used on a variety of materials despite the fact it is calibrated to wood.
Uses for the pin meter include: measuring wood flooring, drywall, painted surfaces, ceiling tiles, carpeting and even cement. The are ideal for use in identifying an exact location of moisture build up. Extra probes can also be bought for a pin meter that can be used to go to a greater depth.
Pin Less Moisture Meter
These types of moisture meter are referred to as pin less meters or non invasive meters and work on the principle of electrical impedance. What is good about this type of moisture meter is the fact that the user can measure moisture content in wood and other materials like concrete and plaster board without causing any damage to the material. The scales they apply are the same as with the pin meter.
They are ideal for testing wood and concrete when it comes to laying a floor. Other uses include testing behind bathroom tiles, under vinyl flooring and other such similar projects around the home for moisture build up. A non destructive moisture meter has the capacity to make a reading of up to three quarter of an inch in depth. When it comes to detecting moisture build up that the eye can’t see this type of moisture meter is ideal.
Accessories For The Moisture Meter
In general both the pin and pin less moisture meter are limited to the depth that they can test for moisture content. Now this may be a problem in some applications where more depth testing is required. However some moisture meters can use attachments so that they can test deeper in to a material. For deep penetration in to a material, long insulated contact pins can be used. You may need to drill small holes in the material though to use these. These elongated pins will be insulated but have insulated free tips. This will ensure a more accurate reading at the precise depth you wish. If you do not wish to drill in to a material then the other option for you is to us a hammer probe. This can insert a long pin in to a surface and to a depth of almost 2 inches. Typical use for a extra depth measurements can be in window frames and door frames.
Wagner Electronics
Wagner is one of the world leader’s when it come to the moisture meter. They employ intelligence technology in their moisture meters to give accurate moisture readings in a variety of materials. Operating now for over 40 years, Wagner has built itself an excellent reputation in the moisture meter market. For an in depth look at the Wagner moisture meter check out their website at Wagner Electronics.
Delmhorst Instrument Co
Delmhorst has been in the business of the moisture meter for over 60 years. Their meters are made to top quality and are at very competitive prices. When using a Delmhorst moisture meter you will discover that it is reliable and very easy to use. To see the range of moisture meters that Delmhorst manufactures check out their website at Delmhorst Instruments.
Lignomat
It does not matter whether you want a moisture meter to test wood, concrete or other materials. Lignomat will have a model for you. Their moisture meters are very professional and designed to give extremely accurate readings on both their pin and pin less instruments. Lignomat is an American based company and all of their products can be viewed on their official website at Lignomat USA.
The complete moisture meter website
Moisture Meter Guide